Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 557

“By rights, I should call the guards and have you cast into prison, tortured.” Zen carefully placed a bookmark into his book and set it aside.

“Do it,” Elenore said inside his head.

“I’m not telling him to ‘do it,’” Stain replied to her as he stared steadfastly. When he opened his mouth to respond to Zen, he said instead, “You’d at least like to hear us out, right?”

Zen tapped his book with one finger. “I hear a lot either way.”

Stain’s gut swirled with nervousness, but Elenore said, “You imbecile. I hope your parents are siblings, otherwise there’s no justification for such continual stupidity. Say. Do. It.”

“Do it,” Stain said.

Governor Zen smiled, and stroked his wispy goatee. “You’re loyal enough to them to suffer that?”

“You should look out across the pond. Then, just say that this way is faster for the both of you.”

Stain very nearly said ‘look out across the pond.’ He tied his tongue in time, then looked out into the pond sagely and repeated, “This way’s faster for the both of us.”

“And doesn’t necessarily preclude the other.” Zen stopped tapping the book. “But I can’t be disloyal to the imperial court. You understand, they have ways of… keeping people in line. Sending people like yourself to people. Hounds, to sniff.”

Stain stared in silence, waiting for Elenore’s direction. After a long moment of indecision, she finally commanded, “Take away your blessing in front of him.”

“He’ll know my ability. If he knows, and he’s not with us, the whole imperial court could know. If the imp—”

“It’s a calculated risk,” Elenore interrupted. “And done with the king’s approval. Even if the imperial court learns of you, they can’t truly do anything but be more cautious.”

And what about my safety? Stain stared without saying anything. He stalled for time, asking, “You think I’m a hound?”

“I didn’t say that,” Zen said.

Meanwhile, Stain demanded of Elenore, “He thinks I’m a hound. I deserve a treat. Give me a seat on parliament, and a title.”

“Parliament?” Elenore’s voice was sharp. “You don’t have time to—”

“I can have someone fill it, just give me a seat.”

responded with only silence. Zen observed

answer I should provide,” Stain reassured Zen while he

you the Baron of Crenshaw,” Elenore

Stain’s mind and

Elenore offered grandly. “The old duke’s

a smile, then withdrew his blessing. Governor Zen beheld Stain’s non-Chu features, even leaning

#####

earned it,” and “Who else could do what he’s done?” Even worse yet, she could feel his amusement through their mental bridge with Vasquer. Their distant ancestral matriarch watched

just a mole. You’re… what are you, exactly? Governor Zen asked,

things you need to know, and ask questions that need to be

expecting some contact. But I wasn’t expecting it so quickly, nor from someone like you.

alive,” Elenore

surprised. “Did he ask about his children?

“Not even once.”

he did give a knowing expression. “So, you know him. Or knew him, if you’re lying and he’s dead. I’d ask for further proof, but any you give me

you the hound of

Amazon, know that it has been

nose. “I imagine they’d

also scouting, gave no indication to Argrave or Elenore that this was a

ask again,” Zen

recited. “Restoring the

binding as he deliberated over what to say. Elenore couldn’t say how he’d gotten the picture, but then maybe it was a bluff of some kind. “I mentioned I

“You did.”

birth, they’ve had to sacrifice

children of the emperor and empress,

family is tightly knit. My daughters, my sons, even my

the need to remind, “Conveniently, the

Zen shook his head.

Elenore pressed the point, and

‘Zen Zen.’ That lends itself rather well to a metaphor. I am Zen, yet at the same time, the whole family is Zen. They’re an extension of me. I’ll protect them every bit as

have

with my message for a reason. Not

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